The demand for engineers in a variety of fields has increased as the economy of Canada has expanded. Canada’s engineers are regarded highly for their expertise and contribution to shaping infrastructure, information and communication technology, environmental sustainability, manufacturing, and other areas’ futures.
Moving to Canada can open up a whole new world of opportunities for you, whether you’ve just earned your engineering license abroad or have worked in the field for several years. The provincial licensing process, in-demand engineering jobs in Canada, and immigration programs that you can use to immigrate to Canada as an engineer are all discussed in this article.
In this piece:
Reasons why an engineer should move to Canada
Immigration programs for engineers with international qualifications
how to obtain a Canadian license as an engineer with a foreign education
jobs that engineers in Canada are looking for
In Canada, how much do engineers earn?
How can I find work in Canada as an engineer?
Process for hiring engineers in Canada
Should you move to Canada as an engineer with international certification?
Reasons why an engineer should move to Canada
People from all over the world decide to move to Canada in search of better living conditions and more lucrative career paths. There are many reasons why settling in Canada as an internationally trained engineer may be appealing, including:
A lack of skilled engineers in all areas
Between 2020 and 2025, the Canadian economy will need to fill over 44,000 engineering jobs in 14 engineering fields, according to Engineers Canada’s Labor Market report. The country is experiencing a shortage of experienced engineers at the mid-level and intermediate levels as senior engineers retire and industries continue to expand. New graduates from Canada cannot adequately fill this skill gap, which presents enormous opportunities for engineers with international training.
In most provinces, engineers are in high demand
Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba are just a few of the provinces where engineers and engineering managers are in high demand. Engineering managers and civil, mechanical, electrical electronic, and software engineers are in high demand across the majority of Canadian provinces. In provinces where those industries are present, jobs in other specializations—metallurgical and materials engineering, mining engineering, aerospace engineering, and petroleum engineering—are more common.
In Canada, engineers are paid well
Engineering jobs in Canada typically pay well, even though salaries can vary depending on your area of expertise and province. For instance, civil engineers in Canada earn an annual salary of approximately $75,000, with some engineers earning as much as $150,000.
Immigration programs for engineers with international qualifications
By allowing applicants for permanent residence (PR), Canada welcomes newcomers who possess the education and skills necessary to fill critical skill gaps. You can choose from several immigration programs to immigrate to Canada and obtain engineering PR.
Program of the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program lets skilled workers with international qualifications immigrate to Canada. As part of this program, applicants are chosen for PR based on their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS), not on their occupation.
Your Express Entry profile is ranked based on your age, education, work experience, and language proficiency, among other things. A Canadian job offer, a provincial nomination (see the PNP section below), or any Canadian education or work experience you have can also earn you more points. After that, applicant profiles are ranked according to their total scores, or CRS scores. After each draw, applicants who meet the cut-off receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR. If you are selected for the Federal Skilled Worker program, you can live in any Canadian province or territory.
Programs for Provincial Nominees (PNP)
Except for Quebec and Nunavut, most Canadian provinces and territories have Provincial Nominee Programs that enable them to nominate candidates who can help fill labor shortages. You may be able to apply for PNP directly (via a paper-based application) or through the federal Express Entry program after selecting the province where you want to relocate.
While some provinces use CRS scores to narrow down applicants, others choose skilled professionals based on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes of their prior employment experience to fill urgent labor market needs. If the province is looking for engineers in your field, you will have a better chance of getting a provincial nomination in these situations.
Professions that are in high demand across provinces may shift over time as the requirements of the labor market change. As an engineer, you should monitor the PNP draws and streams listed below.
Program for Atlantic Immigration (AIP)
The federal government’s Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) lets skilled foreign workers and international students who have studied in Canada settle permanently in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Prince Edward Island (PEI), or Nova Scotia (NB).
Occupation does not factor into AIP selection. However, if you meet the language requirements and have at least 1,560 hours of full-time paid work experience within the past five years, you may be eligible for the program. A job offer from an Atlantic Canada employer is also required.
Note: You may be eligible for additional immigration programs as well, and this list is not exhaustive. For more details, download our guide on moving to Canada.
How to get a license in Canada as a foreign-trained engineer Engineering is a regulated job in Canada. Before you can work for yourself as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), you need to be licensed by your provincial or territorial regulator. Even if you don’t immediately qualify for a P.Eng., once you start the licensing process, you can start working under the supervision of a licensed engineer. License. Software engineers are the only exception, as they do not require a license to practice.
Understanding the province’s engineering licenses
Before you arrive in Canada, you can begin the licensing process in most provinces. Before applying for an engineering license, it’s important to know what kinds of licenses your province offers, as well as the requirements and restrictions associated with each. The process for getting an engineering license varies from province to province and territory to territory.
In most cases, you can become a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with a full license. Credential and permits you to work unsupervised in your profession. Before being eligible for a full license, applicants must have at least four to five years of engineering experience, with at least one year of Canadian experience. However, Professional Engineers Ontario became the first regulatory organization in Canada to eliminate the Canadian experience requirement for engineers with international training who wanted to practice in Canada in May 2023. To be eligible for a P.Eng, you will still need to have worked as an engineer in a different province or territory. License.
Except for the Canadian work experience requirement, applicants may be granted a provisional license by some provincial regulators. If you have at least three or four years of experience working in a foreign engineering field, you might be able to get a provisional license as a new engineer. However, you will need to be supervised by a P.Eng. with a license. Who is in charge of your work until you earn your P.Eng. license?
You can apply for the Engineer-in-Training (EIT)
Member-in-Training, or Engineering Intern program (the names vary by province) with your provincial or territorial regulator if you are a recent engineering graduate or lack sufficient total work experience (foreign or Canadian). You can begin working as an EIT under the direction of a licensed PEng and gain the required work experience toward licensure.
Character evaluation
You must have a positive reputation and good character. This enables engineering regulators to verify that you will act ethically and in the public’s best interest. In most cases, for the regulator to evaluate your trustworthiness and character, you must answer a few test questions and provide character references, including at least one from a licensed engineer in Canada.
Examination for Professional Practice (PPE)
You must pass a Professional Practice Examination (PPE) to become a licensed engineer. Contracts, patents, trademarks, and copyrights are just a few of the topics on which this exam will test your understanding of engineering-related laws and professional and ethical guidelines.
Jobs that engineers in Canada are looking for
To meet the needs of the local labor market, numerous provinces and territories require experienced engineers. The following engineering positions are in high demand across Canada, according to recent provincial and territorial data:
In Canada, how much do engineers earn?
In Canada, engineering is a highly paid occupation. In Canada, the average salary for engineers varies by province, expertise, and number of years in the field.
In Canada, civil engineers earn a median hourly wage of $41.20, according to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank. Salaries are highest in Alberta ($45/hour median wage) and lowest in Prince Edward Island ($31.79/hour median income). Civil engineers with experience can earn up to $70 per hour in some parts of British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.
The following are the Canadian median wages for other engineering occupations:
Engineers in mechanics: $42 for an hour
Engineers in electrical and electronic fields: $40 an hour
Chemical engineers: $43.37 for each hour
Engineers in manufacturing and industry: $40.87 for each hour
Mining technologists: $46.67 for the hour
Petroleum technicians: $52.88 for each hour
Engineers in aerospace: $47.30 for the hour
Except for software engineers, computer engineers: $46.39 for the hour
Computer programmers: $48.08 for each hour
Engineers in charge: $55.29 for each hour
How can I find work in Canada as an engineer?
It’s time to start looking for your first engineering job in Canada once your licensing process has begun. You can start looking for a job before you even get to Canada. To land your dream job, follow these steps:
Learn about local job market requirements by reading relevant job descriptions: Canada may have different requirements for your engineering field in terms of skills, experience, and qualifications. The most effective way to recognize abilities holes and limit appropriate open positions is to investigate what bosses are searching for. Although you may not be eligible for engineering positions until you have a P.Eng. and some Canadian experience. If you have a license, you might be able to work under the direction of a licensed engineer as an engineering associate, assistant, or Engineer-in-Training.
Make a resume in the style of Canada: It’s possible that the format of your resume you used in your home country won’t always work in Canada. In Canada, there are three primary formats for resumes: hybrid, reverse chronological, and functional The amount of work experience you have in your field will determine the best format for your resume. Because the majority of employers in Canada use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to shortlist resumes, it is essential to tailor your resume to each position by including keywords from the job description. Download our free resume templates in the Canadian style to get started.
Take a look at company websites and job search platforms: It’s a good idea to look for jobs on job portals like Indeed, Job Bank, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Monster. Additionally, you should make a list of potential employers and monitor their career pages on their websites.
Building skills: You can earn certifications in software, technology, or other skills that are in high demand in your field in addition to any courses or training required for your licensure. For instance, obtaining a certification in AutoCAD or another CAD software may be beneficial if you are looking for employment in electrical or civil engineering.
Enhance your professional connections: For engineers in Canada, networking is very important. You can build meaningful relationships with other engineers by connecting with them through professional associations, industry events, and LinkedIn. One of the biggest benefits of networking is that you can get into jobs that may not be open to the public. Even licensed engineers looking for associates may be present in your network. In addition, your connections may be able to direct you through the licensing procedure, offer you mentorship and job recommendations, or vouch for your character if you are eligible for a P.Eng. license.
Process for hiring engineers in Canada The majority of employers have a thorough hiring process for engineers that includes reviewing resumes, conducting multiple rounds of interviews, and testing technical skills.
If your resume and cover letter are chosen, the first round of interviews will probably be a screening interview to make sure your goals are in line with the goals of the company and the job. The hiring manager will typically conduct an initial in-person or online interview with you to assess your skills, strengths, prior experience, and overall suitability for the position.
Before or after an interview with the hiring manager, many employers also give applicants tests, case studies, or exercises to verify their technical skills. For software engineering positions, for instance, you might have to take a coding test. In addition to their technical subject matter knowledge, candidates for civil and mechanical engineering positions may be tested on their mathematical skills, analytical abilities, and problem-solving abilities.
In Canada, the culture fit interview is also an important part of the hiring process. The culture fit interview aims to assess your soft skills, familiarity with the company’s values and vision, and compatibility with the team.
The majority of employers will also conduct reference and background checks on you following your selection for the position to confirm your conduct, work experience, and education credentials. In the end, the employer will present you with an employment offer, which you can either accept immediately or negotiate its terms with.
Should you move to Canada as an engineer with international certification?
In all of Canada’s provinces, qualified engineers are in high demand, and there is not enough local supply to meet the needs of the job market. The immigration programs in Canada provide you, as an engineer with international training, with an exciting and lucrative opportunity to relocate to Canada and settle there permanently. However, the licensing process takes a long time, and before you can get a job as a licensed engineer, you may need to work under supervision for some time.
